The Effects of Thalidomide on Angiogenesis, Growth and Metastasis of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Nude Mice / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To obsrve the effects of thalidomide on angiogenesis, growth and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in nude mice. Methods The model bearing HCC was set up in 24 nude mice, and then the rats were randomly divided into therapy group and control group, each containing 12 animal. Thalidomide (200mg/kg/d) dissolved in 0.5% CMC suspension was administered intraperitoneally in the therapy group, and equivalent 0.5% CMC was administered in the control group. Mice were sacrificed at the 30th day after administration, the size and weight of tumors and metastatic condition in liver and lung were determined, levels of CD34 and VEGF mRNA in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemical and semi-quantitative RT-PCR, respectively, and microvessel density (MVD) in tumor tissues was also counted. Results MVD and VEGF mRNA level in therapy group were lower than those in control group (P